Monthly Archives: September 2016

Our intrepid leader Lu is a bit of a fan of content. Fuel her with coffee and she’ll write thousands of words a day. However, content isn’t always the best way to get your message across. No matter how well it’s written, people don’t always want to sit and actually read through what you’ve taken the time to write.

Which is where video comes in.

We are an inherently curious species (cats have nothing on humans), which means when a video pops up on our timeline or newsfeed, we’re going to click on it. The same isn’t always true, even of a blog with a fantastic headline.

Admittedly, not everyone wants to video themselves, and 99.9% of us hate seeing anything played back that we’ve appeared in, but it really is a great way to get a message across, and can spice up an otherwise text heavy social media approach.

Live video, even more so, is a top way to get people to actually engage with your brand and page.

Here are our top five ways to make the most of live video on Facebook.

1 – Use it address blog comments

So, you’ve written a great blog and it’s got people talking, engaging, commenting and asking questions.

Rather than simply replying to each individual message you could instead respond via video. Take a moment to recap your original content, then go through a few of the comments you’ve received.

If you’ve had a few good comments, and maybe someone has a different view to the one you’ve expressed it might even be worth inviting that person to join you on a live interview.

2 – Do a behind the scenes sneaky-peak of your business

We hear it over and over again but people buy people. That’s why showing a behind the scenes look of your business is a great way to get buy-in.

Perhaps it’s a staff member’s birthday, or you have a special event? Stream it live so people can still feel involved, even if they can’t physically be with you.

You might even want to address a business process that helps you to run more efficiently, or a trick you’ve picked up along the way that could be of benefit to someone else.

3 – Promote your event

Once you have all the details worked out, take to Facebook Live to announce your upcoming event. It could be a seminar, webinar, training session, launch party or some other celebration – whatever it is, get it out there via video.

You’ll automatically create a buzz because the people that have tuned in to your broadcast will be the first to find out all about it.

The key with this sort of announcement though is to make sure you have an easy to remember URL for people to remember, so they can go to find out more or sign up. Also, don’t forget to copy the link in to the comments for those that couldn’t remember!

4 – Answer FAQs

You can create a script and pre-select FAQs that you want to answer. You know your business, and your customers best, so you know what some of the sticking points might be during the buying journey, and you can easily address them via video.

You might even want to run a Q&A session instead, inviting people to comment with their own questions that you can answer there and then. This really does improve engagement, and can provide fantastic customer service.

5 – Tease new products

If you’re launching a new product that isn’t yet available on your website, you can use live video to showcase it, and tease your audience.

Explain the new product, it’s features and how it can benefit them. What problem does it solve, or why would it make their life better? If it’s not already available, one of the best things you can do to actually increase sales as a direct result of the video is to offer a pre-order link. Perhaps even with a discount.

This way you can also track what sales are directly attributed to your video.

We hope that’s helped, but if you have any questions, don’t forget to give us a call on 0161 883 2024 and we’ll be happy to help.

We all know people who are “inwardly focussed”. OK, let’s not beat about the bush here, self-involved. Whether they be friends or work colleagues, we all have that person who dominates conversation. If you have done something, they’ve done it better. If you’ve been ill, they had it worse. No matter what you’re talking about, they skilfully turn the conversation back round to them.

No matter who it is, or what the situation they’re in, these people are a royal pain in the what-not. However, when it comes to networking and marketing, it’s potential business suicide.

Think about the last time you went to a networking event and were faced with a total stranger who thrust their hand out, introduced themselves and shoved a business card at you. Five minutes later you’re still listening to them drivel on about their business, the product, their experience, their sheer wonderfulness.

Did you ever do business with them?

Have you ever referred to them?

Come on be honest, do you now avoid them at all costs?

Thought so.

Social media marketing is absolutely no different. When I start working with a new client they often query what to post on social media, usually citing the fact their industry isn’t interesting enough to post about twice a day.

When I reply that the last thing they want to do is keep talking about themselves, their industry or their product they look at me like I have two heads.

But how will I sell if I don’t mention my latest gadget?

Over the years I’ve learnt to curb my urge to face palm and cry; however, this still remains my initial instinct.

I know I’ve said it before, but if you’re new, or have forgotten, let me say it again: social media marketing is NOT about selling. It’s about building relationships with your audience, and you can’t do that if all you try to do is sell to them.

No matter how many of my ramblings you’ve read in the past, you may well find yourself thinking this makes no sense. Your business is on social media because you want to sell things. Your audience knows you want to sell things to them, and clearly they don’t mind otherwise they wouldn’t be following you.

Right?

Wrong.

The key thing you need to remember is that your audience is not on social media because they want to buy things. They use social media day in, day out for entertainment, to learn things, to keep on top of news and current trends, to interact and to be, well, social.

Your constant posts to buy, buy, buy are nothing more than spam.

They can’t learn, they can’t interact, they can’t engage.

If they can’t do these things at any point, they will tune out. It doesn’t matter if they unfollow you, or simply mute you – the end result is the same.

You are never going to get them back.

When it comes to social media marketing your job is to inform your audience. Tell them about products that are on the market – even if you don’t sell them. Let them know you are the best person to come to when they are looking for advice. Don’t judge every interaction by what you immediately get out of it.

A customer may come to you, ask your advice and go elsewhere. But they will always remember how you took the time to help them in the first place. Next time they need something they may come to you and actually purchase. If you wow them then, I assure you, you have a customer for life. And that is definitely worth whatever time it cost you in the first place.

People cannot build a relationship with someone who just talks at them constantly – you need to find ways to make them want to interact and engage with you. Let them learn about you, what your values are, what you stand for and what your experience is. Get them to care about your story.